Max menkin



M. MENKIN BUTTON ASSEMBLING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZZZ- 3 4i as lNvENToR" Mar/Venfciw M ATTORNEY Aug. 2a, 1928. v 1,682,301

M; MENKIN BUTTON KSSEMBLING DEVICE I Filed kiiril 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 m H w main. 1n 45 INYENTOR Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES MAX MENKIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUTTON ASSEI/IBLING DEVICE.

Application filed April 10, 1926.

This invention relates to an improved button assembling device, and has for its primary object to provide simply constructed and positively operating and labor saving means for assembling the several parts of covered buttons.

More particularly, the present improve ments comprehend in a device of the above character having a vertically movable head carrying a plurality of die members, clutch means normally holding the die means against rotation, and novel means for imparting a partial rotation to said head at the end of its vertical movement in one direction to position the die members thereon with respect to complementary die members.

It is also a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction of the die carrying head and the mounting and arrangement of the die members thereon whereby said die members may have a limited vertical movement relative to the head, and means operative in one position of the die members to prevent such independent vertical movement thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved button covering device and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompany ing drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of my present improvements, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device showing the die carrying head in its normal position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the head being shown at an intermediate point of its turn ing movement as it approaches its normal position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base plate and the relatively stationary die members mounted there-on as indicated by the line 14- on Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged. vertical sectional view showing the die carrying head in its lowered position and the complementary die members engaged with each other;

Serial no. 101,035.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the arm for holding the die members on the movable head against independent axial movement;

Flg. 7 is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the several parts of the covered button assembled by my invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates a frame standard of suitable form rising from a base 6 and provided at its up per end with a horizontally disposed arm 8 provided with suitable guide means for a vertically reciprocating slide 9. This slide may be conveniently operated from a foot treadle by any desired conventional means such as a rack and pinion, lever connections or the like, not shown.

In the slide 9 the upper end of a rod or spindle 10 is securely fixed by means of a suitable set screw 11, said rod extending be low the slide 9 and having a flanged head 12 at its lower end. There is also secured upon the rod 10 by means of the screw indicated at 1 1 a clutch sleeve 18. The end of this sleeve below the slide 9' is provided with a series of spaced clutch teeth 15.

A die carrying head 16 is loosely mounted to rotate upon the rod 10 below the clutch sleeve 13 and is centrally formed on its upper surface with the boss 17 having the upwardly projecting spaced clutch teeth 18. The clutch teeth 15 and 18 have their ends tapered to provide opposite rounded or convex surfaces indicated at 19. Below the head 16 a collar 20 surrounc s the rod 10 and is provided with radially extending arm 21. A screw 22 threaded in the collar 20 has its inner end slidably engaged in a longitudinal guideway or channel 23 provided in the periphery of the rod 10, said screw preventing turning or rotative movement of the collar 20 and arm 21 relative to said rod and the head 16 but permitting of longitudinal movement of the collar with the die carrying head along the rod 10. i

A coil spring 24 is engaged at its lower end with the flanged head 12 of the rod 10 and at its upper end bears against the collar 20 and yieldingly urges .said collar and the head 16 upwardly to the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings.

In the head 16 a plurality of equi-distantly spaced downwardly projecting pins 25 are securely fixed at their upper ends. Each of these pins is provided in its periphcry with a longitudinally extending recess or groove 26 A die member 27 is loosely engaged upon each pin and held against rotative movement relative thereto by means of the screw or stud 28 threaded in the die member and slidably engaged at its inner end in the groove 26.

The upper surface of the head 16 is provided with diametrically opposed lugs 28 and 29 arranged intermediate of the spaced pins 25. lVith these lugs the lower end of a curved arm or pawl 30 is adapted to co operate. This pawl is loosely pivoted at its upper end as at 31 to the lower angular end of a bracket plate 32 which is secured to the frame arm 8 by a screw indicated at 33.

Upon the base 6 of the frame a plate 34 is adapted to be detachably secured by suitable bolts 35, and in this plate the lower threaded ends of a pair of spaced vertically disposed rods 86 are secured by means of the nuts 37. The upper end of 'each of these rods is slightly reduced in diameter and upon the same die members 38 and 39 respectively, are slidably mounted, such sliding movement of the die members being limited by the stop screw 40 carried by each die member and engaged in a longitudinal groove in the periphery of the rod 36. The die members are yieldingly urged upwardly to normal position bythe coil springs 41 and the downward movement of said die members is limited by a stop shoulder 42 with which each of the rods 36 is provided.

The upper end of the die member 38 is formed with a cavity or recess 43 to receive the parts to be operated upon and also receiving the annular projection or extension 44 on the lower end of one of the die members 27. The other die member 39 is also provided with a similar cavity or recess 45 in its upper end, and at the inner edge thereof the additional annular channel or groove 46 is formed. The upper end of rod 36 upon which this die member 39 is mounted is provided with an axially extending bore 36, the }}U.1'POS of which will presently appear. Also, 1 preferably provide each of the pins 25 carried by the head 16 with a concave lower end face 4?.

Covered buttons now commonly used are composed essentially of two parts. As shown in Fig. 8, the back part 48 of the button is in the form of a sheet metal plate having a marginal flange 49 and a central opening 50 therein. Within the flange 49, layers of fabric or other packing-material 51 are placed and a portion thereof protrudes through the opening 50 to provide a tuft 52 whereby the button may be sewn to the garment. Upon the material 51 there is placed a cardboard or paper disc 56 which is relatively stiff or rigid to prevent the packing material from which tuft 52 is formed being pulled through the opening 50. The other part or cap section of the button is also in the form of a sheet metal disc 58 having a marginal flange 54. Over the outer surfaces of this disc the cover-mg material is placed and is of sufiiciently greater the base wall of which is normally substantially flush with the upper end of the post 36. The treadle or other means is then actuated so that slide 9 together with rod'lO and the die carrying head 16 are moved downwardly as a unit, it being understood of course, that two of the die members 27 on said head are in line with the lower die members 88 and 39. However, the die member 27 in line with the die member 38 is engaged at its upper end by the arm 21. Therefore when said die member contacts with the opposed die member 38, it will force the latter downwardly against the action of spring 41 and the upper end of pin 36 will enter the bore of the die member 27. Therefore, the edge of the fabric layer 55 will be turned over the edge of the metal disc 53 between the flange of said disc and the wall of the die member. Consequently, in the return of upward movement of the head 16, the disc 53 and fabric layer 55 are carried with the die member 27. As the head 16 approaches its normal position, the lower end of the pivoted pawl 30 engages the upper surface of said head against one side of one of the lugs 29, the first forcs said head downwardly on the rod 10 against the action of the spring 24 and as the rounded side faces of the clutch teeth 18 on said head come into opposed relation with the similarly rounded faces of the clutch teeth 15 on the sleeve 13, said pawl 30 imparts a rotative movement to the head 16 until the points of the teeth 18 pass the points of the teeth 15. This movement is caused by the pressure of the lower end of the pawl 30 at one side of its pivot 31 against one of the lugs 29 on the head 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thereafter, the spring 24 exerting upward pressure against head 16 causes the clutch tooth faces 19 to coact in the nature of a cam and complete the partial rotation of the head 16. As herein shown, since there are provided on said head four of the die members 27, it will be understood that in each operation just described, the head 16 is rotated through 90. The

relative positions of the clutch teeth 15 and 18 at an intermediate point in this rotative movement of the die carrying head is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this manner, the die member 27 which receives the part 53 with the covering 55 of the button from the die member 38 is not positioned above the other lower die member 39. The operator then arranges in the cavity 45 of this lower die member the other complementary part 48 of the button with the padding material 51 therein and at the same time another of the button parts 53 with the covering material 55 is placed in the recess of the other die member 38. The treadle is then again operated to lower the die carrying head 16. As shown in Fig. 5, since the die member 27 carrying the part 55 of the button was moved away from the relatively stationary arm 21 on rod 10, said die member may now move longitudinally with respect to the pin 25. Therefore, in the second do-Wn ward movement of the head 16, as the die member 27 en a es the lower die member 39 I it moves upwardly until it contacts with the under side of head 16. In this relative movement between die member 27 and pin 25, the part 55 of the button is engaged by the end of pin 25, and as the die member 27 comes into contact with head 16, the flange 49 of the part 48 of the button is received within the flange 54 of the part 53. In the final portion of the downward movement of the head 16 the die member 39 is forced downwardly slightly against the action of spring 41 and the pin 25 forces the flange 54 of the covered button part 53 into the annular groove or channel 46 of the die member 39 and Said flange is turned or bent inwardly by the wall of said groove and is thereby tightly clinched upon the flange 49 of the button part 48. As the two parts of the button are brought together, the extended edge of the covering material 55 is folded inwardly between the two flanges 54 and 49. This folding of the covering material results from the fact that the projecting edge of this material extending beyond the flange 54 of member 53 is first directed inwardly by the wall of the groove 4-6 in the lower die member over the flange 49 on the part 48 so that as the two parts of the button are forced together, the flange 49 will force this inwardly extending edge of the covering material upwardly between itself and the flange 54, whereupon the two flanges are finally clinched upon the edge portion of the material to securely hold the same. The heavy compressing action which is applied upon the button parts in this last operation, insures a positive and permanent connection between said parts. At the same time of course the part 53 is engaged by the other die member 27 and is properly flanged and shaped in the manner above explained.

When the die carrying head 16 again returns to its normal position, and the clutch teeth 18 are brought into engagement with the clutch teeth 15 through the action of pawl 30 as above explained, a second 90 rotation is imparted to the head 16 so that another of the die members 27, which has received the button part 53 will be positioned in alignment with the die member 39.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and manner of operation of my improved button assembling device will be fully and clearly understood. It will be seen that by very simple mechanism, this operation may be carried out in an expeditious manner;

It will be seen that the essentially novel feature of my present improvements resides in the means for automatically imparting the required degree of rotation to the movabie die carrying head so as to properly position the die members thereon with respect to the relatively stationary complementary die members. While the device as herein disclosed for this purpose has given very satis factory results in practice, it will nevertheless, be understood that the detail features thereof are susceptible of considerable modification, and I therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such alternative constructions as may be fairly incorporated in the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of lower die members, an axially mov able rod, a head loosely mounted on said rod, means yieldingly resisting movement of the head relative to said rod, clutch means normally holding said head against rotative movement on the rod, spaced die members carried by said head, and means directly coacting with means on said head at the end of the axial movement of said rod in one direction to release the head from the holding action of the clutch means and impart a partial rotation to said head to position the die members thereon with respect to the lower die members.

2. In a device of the character described, lower die members, a rod axially movable with respect to said lower die members, a plurality of upper die members carried by said rod and movable as a unit therewith and also for unitary rotation and axial move ment with respect to said rod, means yieldingly supporting the die members against independent axial movement relative to said rod, clutch means preventing rotation of said die members in the latter position thereof, and means automatically operating at the end of the axial movement of said rod in one direction to impart unitary axial movement to the die members relative to the said head in one direction to render said clutch means effective to prevent rotation of said head, spaced die members carried by said head and each having limited movement axially of said head, a non-rotatable part mounted on said rod, and means automatically acting in the movement of said rod in one direction to disengage the clutch means and impart a partial rotation to said head to position one of said die members for engaging with said part and thereby prevent the independent axial movement of said die member.

4:. In device of the character described, a reciprocating rod, a. head loosely mounted on said rod for axial and rotative movement, clutch means, a spring yieldingly urging said head in one direction to render said clutch means effective to prevent rotation of said head, spaced die members carried by said head and each having limited movement axially of said head, a non-rotatable part mounted on said rod, spaced lugs on said head, and a pivoted pawl engageable at its free end with one of said lugs in the reciprocating movement of said rod in one direction to move the head axially on the rod in pposition to said spring and thereby disengage the clutch means and impart a partial rotation to said head to position one of the die members thereon for engagement with said part whereby the independent axial movement of said die members is prevented.

5. In a device of the character described, a vertically reciprocating slide, a rod fixed in said slide and projecting longitudinally from one end thereof, a clutch sleeve fixed on said rod, a head loosely mounted. on said rod, clutch means carried by said head, a spring yieldingly urgingsaid head axially on the rod in one direction to engage the clutch means thereof with the clutch means of said sleeve and thereby normally hold said head against rotative movement, spaced die members carried by said head, and means automatically acting in the reciprocating movement of said slide in one direc tion to disengage the die carrying head from said clutch sleeve against the action of said spring and impart a partial rotation to said head to position the die members thereon with respect to relatively stationary complementary die members.

6. In a device or" the character described, a vertically reciprocating slide, a rod fixed in said slide and projecting longitudinally from one end thereof, a clutch sleeve fixed on said rod, a head loosely mounted on said rod, clutch means carried by said head, a spring yieldingly urging said head axially on the rod in one direction to engage the clutch means thereof With the clutch means of said sleeve and thereby normally hold said head against rotative movement, spaced studs fixed in said head, a die member axially movable on each of said studs with respect to the head, a non-rotatable part mounted on said rod and movable longitudinally thereof with said head, and means automatically acting in the movement ot said rod in one direction to disengage the clutch means of said head from said clutch sleeve and impart a partial rotation to said head to position one of said die members with respect to said non-rotatable part and thereby prevent axial movement of said die member independently of the head and simultaneously position the die members on said head with respect to complementary relatively stationary die members,

. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

MAX MENKIN. 

